When Javi Dumped Mari

By: Mia Sosa

Narrated by: Gisela Chipe, Andre Santana

AN INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER

A Most Anticipated Book of 2025

NPR • People • Bustle • Paste Magazine • Latinx in Publishing • BookBub

One engagement. Two best friends. Three's a crowd.

On the eve of their college graduation, best friends Javier Báez and Marisol Campos swore never to date someone the other doesn’t approve of. Now, almost a decade later, Javi has a problem. Mari, the woman he’s secretly pined for since sophomore year, is engaged—and Javi didn’t even get the chance to vet the Pedro Pascal knockoff she plans to marry.

A successful entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles, Mari is no longer seeking Javi’s dating advice or waiting for him to declare his love. Instead, she’s made a different pact—with herself. And to succeed, Mari’s vowing to build a future with someone who wants to commit to her.

With his life and career finally on track, Javi’s ready to confess his feelings. Except Mari’s changed the script and moved on without him. Javi has just six weeks to convince Mari this marriage is a flop. If that means he needs to ruffle some feathers to help her avert disaster, well, he’s up for the challenge. After all, isn’t that what best friends are for?

Hated Javi

I usually love Mia’s book. Love the representation, but I couldn’t wait for it to be over. It made no sense that this strong kick-ass woman would be so desperately in love with such a wuss. She was going to marry the other guy up until the last 90% of the book. Too much pining, not enough passion.

a perfect rom com friends to lovers

Mia Sosa does it again! The representation that she makes a point to add to her books will always warm my heart 🥹❤️

Wonderful story

Javi and Mari met in college and didn't like each other at first, but once they got to know each other better they became the best of friends.
The were attracted to each other but both pushed those feelings to the back and focused on just being friends. They make a pact that they need to approve of who the other is dating before they get serious. At the beginning of the story we find out that Mari breaks that pact when she introduces Javi to her fiancé. It was the same time he was going to tell her that he wants to be more than friends.
The rest of the books bounces between the past and the present as you learn about how complicated Javi and Mari's friendship was. Then it all comes to a head at the wedding.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a very good friends to lovers story. The characters were wonderful. It has plenty of laughs. Very well done.

Five Star Performances!

When the writing and the performances dance together like this, it feels magical. The author takes the traditional friends to lovers trope and gives them a fresh multicultural take while critiquing traditional gender roles without becoming overly preachy. The comedic moments kept the story light and escapist while developing the emotional character arcs. This balance can be tricky and was woven well here. The voice actors brought the chemistry and meticulous accent work to elevate the story. Well done!

Javi and Mari

The author moved back and forth in time. Also she used first person from chapter to chapter alternating between the 2 major characters.

Both of these are not my favorite genres.